Sy Oliver
Melvin "Sy" Oliver (born December 17, 1910 in Battle Creek, Michigan — died… Read Full Bio ↴Melvin "Sy" Oliver (born December 17, 1910 in Battle Creek, Michigan — died May 28, 1988 in New York City) was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader. His mother was a piano teacher and his father was a multi-instrumentalist who made a name for himself demonstrating saxophones at a time that instrument was little used outside of marching bands.
Oliver left home at 17 to play with Zack White and his Chocolate Beau Brummels and later with Alphonse Trent. He sang and played trumpet with these bands, becoming known for his "growling" horn playing.
He joined Jimmie Lunceford's band in 1933 and contributed many hit arrangements to the band, including "My Blue Heaven" and "Ain't She Sweet". In 1939, he became one of the first African Americans with a prominent role in a white band when he joined Tommy Dorsey as an arranger, though he ceased playing trumpet at that time. (Fletcher Henderson joined the Benny Goodman orchestra as the arranger in the same year.) He led the transition of the Dorsey band from Dixieland to modern big band. His joining was instrumental in Buddy Rich's decision to join Dorsey. His arrangement of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" was a big hit for Dorsey, as were his own compositions "Yes Indeed" (a gospel-jazz tune that was later recorded by Ray Charles), "Opus One," "The Minor is Muggin'," "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie," and "Well, Git It."
After leaving Dorsey, Oliver continued working as a free-lance arranger---one of his more successful such efforts was the Frank Sinatra album I Remember Tommy, a combined tribute to each man's former boss---and as music director for Decca Records.
In later years, up until 1980, he led his own jazz band, for which he took up the trumpet again.
Oliver left home at 17 to play with Zack White and his Chocolate Beau Brummels and later with Alphonse Trent. He sang and played trumpet with these bands, becoming known for his "growling" horn playing.
He joined Jimmie Lunceford's band in 1933 and contributed many hit arrangements to the band, including "My Blue Heaven" and "Ain't She Sweet". In 1939, he became one of the first African Americans with a prominent role in a white band when he joined Tommy Dorsey as an arranger, though he ceased playing trumpet at that time. (Fletcher Henderson joined the Benny Goodman orchestra as the arranger in the same year.) He led the transition of the Dorsey band from Dixieland to modern big band. His joining was instrumental in Buddy Rich's decision to join Dorsey. His arrangement of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" was a big hit for Dorsey, as were his own compositions "Yes Indeed" (a gospel-jazz tune that was later recorded by Ray Charles), "Opus One," "The Minor is Muggin'," "T.D.'s Boogie Woogie," and "Well, Git It."
After leaving Dorsey, Oliver continued working as a free-lance arranger---one of his more successful such efforts was the Frank Sinatra album I Remember Tommy, a combined tribute to each man's former boss---and as music director for Decca Records.
In later years, up until 1980, he led his own jazz band, for which he took up the trumpet again.
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Sy Oliver Lyrics
'Tain's What You Do Dislocate your spine if you don't sign he says I'll have…
Ain't She Sweet Ain't she sweet? See her walking down that street. Yes I…
Can Anyone Explain Can anyone explain the thrill of a kiss? No! No! No! But…
Congratulations to Someone Congratulations to someone Someone who's happy with you I gu…
Don'cha Go 'Way Mad I must confess what you say is true I had a…
Ev'rything I Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Ain't Got Nobody There's been a sayin' goin' round And I begin to think…
I Can't Give You Anything but Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Found The One I Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I Surrender Dear Pride, sad, splendid liar, Sworn enemy of love Kept my…
It Maybe it's because the kiss you gave me Touched my heart…
It's Always You The concert was over in Carnagie Hall The maestro took bow…
On The Sunny Side Of The Street Walked with no one and talked with no one And I…
Organ Grinder's Swing Who's that coming down the street? Good old organ grinder P…
Pennies from Heaven Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don't you…
Sophisticated Lady Sophisticated lady tryin' to change my ways Just because you…
T'aint What You Do Dislocate your spine if you don't sign he says I'll have…
Yes Indeed Yes, indeed! [Chorus:] Yes, indeed! Yes, indeed! Get t…
Yes Indeed! Yes, indeed! [Chorus:] Yes, indeed! Yes, indeed! …